Horror start for nine-man Pembroke

Football - BOV Premier League

Pembroke had five newcomers in their starting line-up and need more time to gel as a team. Clifford Gauci and Ukrainian Oleksandr Maksymov were the advanced central midfielders in front of anchor man Barbetti. Defenders Adrian Borg, Brendon Muscat and forward Luke Montebello also joined up this season.

Floriana had a familiar look about them with very few changes from last season. Only that goalkeeper Justin Haber returns to his home town, togetherr with Amadou Samb and coach Giovanni Tedesco in their second spell with the Greens. Defender Alex Cini joined from Pembroke with new recruit the Italian central midfielder Maurizio Vella.

Samb immediately made his mark as Florianatried to exploit uncertainties in the Pembroke newly-assembled formation. He chested a good Chiesa cross but shot over from a promising position. Floriana took an early lead short of the quarter hour. Samb went past Brandon Muscat down the left, sent a low cross for Mario Fontanella to slot the ball in at the near post from inside the eightyard box.

Hardly a minute later Pembroke keeper Mario Muscat had to rush off his line to reach for the ball before Fontanella, put through by Samb.

To their credit Pembroke were not demorilised and levelled matters after 18 minutes. Luke Montebello chased a long pass from Barbetti and lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper Haber after beating Pepe’s challenge.

At this point Floriana looked to have lost their eraly rhythm. On 28 minutes Pembroke should have gone in front. Haber fumbled the ball as he tried to thwart Montebello on a cross, but Siraj Arab skied the loose ball.

Instead, Floriana regained the lead four minutes later. Samb fell inside the area in a aerial tussle as he tried to reach for a high cross but the loose ball hit Brandon Muscat who beat his own keeper as he instinctively outstretched his leg.

Floriana responded by taking control of possession, but failed to pose any attacking threat. With eight minutes still to go to halftime, Pembroke had a goal disallowed for an offside position by Borg who had headed in Micallef’s freekick.

Pembroke introduced new Brazilian Mateus Regis soon after the restart and they looked like offering more threat. The game came to life towards the hour.On a Vella freekick from the left, Pepe’s firm header brough a smart save form keeper Muscat.

On 69 minutes, Pembroke were down to ten men. Siraj Arab hit oppoenent Pepe after losing possession and rightly received his marching orders.

Pembroke coach Winston Muscat attempted to get back into the gane by replacing Manolito Micallef with new striker Jonathan Mariano but Floriana mustered enough pressure to hold them defending grimly. It became almost a shooting practice for the Greens with keeper Muscat kept busy to hold several close shots from Monticelli, Vella and Samb.

As frustartion grew and tampers flared, Luke Montebello was also sent off for a reckless tackle on Andre Scicluna to complete Pembroke’s misery.

■ Pembroke’s debut start of the season ended in horror. An own goal committed by defender Brandon Muscat past the half hour decided the match in favour of Floriana who, although they were the better side for long stretches, they lacked enough...